Force Sensor Through Structured Light Deflection

2. The surgical visualization system of claim 1, wherein the element of the surgical device is a movable element and the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to determine the state of the movable element.

3. The surgical visualization system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to provide commands or signals to a robotic control system.

4. The surgical visualization system of claim 3, wherein the commands or signals to the robotic control system are configured by the control circuit to adjust a position of the element of the surgical device based on the detected projected straight laser line reference and the structured light reflected from the surface of the element of the surgical device.

5. The surgical visualization system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to provide image data associated with a surgical scene and the determined position of the element to a display of a video monitoring system.

6. The surgical visualization system of claim 5, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to pulse the image data in alternative frames displayed on the display of the video monitoring system.

8. The surgical visualization system of claim 7, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to determine a force “F” applied to the shaft based on the distance “d.”

9. The surgical visualization system of claim 7, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to provide commands or signals to a robotic control system.

10. The surgical visualization system of claim 9, wherein the commands or signals to the robotic control system are configured by the control circuit to control a state of the surgical device.

11. The surgical visualization system of claim 7, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to provide image data associated with a surgical scene and the distance “d” from the projected straight laser line reference to the distal end of the shaft of the surgical device to a display of a video monitoring system.

12. The surgical visualization system of claim 11, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to pulse the image data in alternative frames displayed on the display of the video monitoring system.

14. The surgical visualization system of claim 13, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to determine a state of the first and second jaws based on the respective first and second distances “d1” and “d2.”

15. The surgical visualization system of claim 13, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to provide commands or signals to a robotic control system.

16. The surgical visualization system of claim 15, wherein the commands or signals to the robotic control system are configured to center the first and second jaws.

17. The surgical visualization system of claim 15, wherein the commands or signals to the robotic control system are configured to home the first and second jaws.

18. The surgical visualization system of claim 13, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to provide image data associated with a surgical scene and the first and second distances “d1” and “d2” from the projected straight laser line reference to the tips of the distal ends of the respective first and second jaws to a display of a video monitoring system.

19. The surgical visualization system of claim 18, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the control circuit to pulse the image data in alternative frames displayed on the display of the video monitoring system.

20. The surgical visualization system of claim 13, wherein the first position of the first jaw and the second jaw is a centered position of the first jaw and the second jaw.